[0001] This invention was made in the course of work supported by grants or awards from
the Department of Health and Human Services. The Government has certain rights in
this invention.
[0002] This invention relates to novel and biologically active vitamin D compounds. More
specifically, this invention relates to 1α-hydroxyvitamin D analogs containing a cyclopentane
ring as part of their side chains. These compounds exhibit high potency in various
assays of vitamin D activity, and thus represent novel substitutes for the known vitamin
D compounds.
[0003] It is well known that vitamin D is essential for proper bone growth and development
and for the maintenance of blood calcium levels within the normal physiological range.
It is also known that this activity of vitamin D depends on the metabolic conversion
of the vitamin to its biologically active metabolites. Specifically, it has been shown
that 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ (1,25-(OH)₂D₃), the dihydroxylated metabolite normally
formed from vitamin D₃ in the animal or human, is the active species responsible for
regulating calcium transport in the intestine, and calcium resorption from bone (bone
mobilization), thereby controlling the overall blood calcium level of the organism,
and assuring the maintenance of calcium homeostasis. (These calcium-related activities
of vitamin D metabolites or analogs will, in the following description, be referred
to collectively as the "calcemic activity" of the compounds.) The discovery of the
biologically active metabolites of vitamin D has stimulated the preparation of many
synthetic analogs, such as, for example, 1α-hydroxy-vitamin D₃, 1α-hydroxyvitamin
D₂, fluorinated vitamin D derivatives, as well as analogs with altered side chains,
and some of the natural, as well as several of the synthetic compounds, because of
their biological potency and beneficial effects on calcium balance, have found use,
or have been proposed, as therapeutic agents in the prophylaxis or treatment of various
calcium metabolism and bone disorders, such as renal osteodystrophy, vitamin D-resistant
rickets, osteoporosis and related diseases.
[0004] It has also been shown that 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ and certain related analogs, in addition
to their "calcemic activity" as summarized above, also show potent activity in inhibiting
the proliferation of malignant cells and inducing their differentiation to normal
cells. (This activity will be referred to herein as the "differentiation activity"
of vitamin D compounds.) Because of their remarkable potency as differentiation-inducing
agents, 1α-hydroxyvitamin D compounds have been proposed as anticancer agents, at
least for certain types of cancers (Suda
et al. U.S. Patent No. 4,391,802). More recently, a number of vitamin D side chain homologs
have been disclosed, including, for example, the 24-homo-, 26-homo-, 26,27-dimethyl-
and the 26,27-diethyl analogs of 1,25-(OH)₂D₃, which are reported to be preferentially
active as differentiation-inducing agents [DeLuca
et al. U.S. Patent No. 4,717,721; Sai
et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull.
33, 878 (1985); Ikekawa
et al., Chem. Pharm. Bull.
35, 4362 (1987)]. In addition, 1α-hydroxyvitamin D compounds have been proposed for
the treatment of certain skin disorders, such as psoriasis [Dikstein and Hartzshtark,
U.S. Patent 4,610,978]. This broad spectrum of activities and the varied potential
uses of vitamin D compounds have further stimulated the search for novel analogs with
desirable biological properties.
Disclosure of Invention
[0005] New vitamin D compounds have now been prepared which exhibit extremely high activity
in the usual vitamin D assay systems. Specifically, these compounds are more potent
than the natural metabolite, 1,25-(OH)₂D₃, in both their calcemic and their differentiation
activities. The new compounds are 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D analogs containing a cyclopentane
ring in the side chain, and can be represented by the following general structure:

where R¹, R² and R³ are each selected from the group consisting of hydrogen or
a hydroxy-protecting group, and
where X and Y both represent hydrogen, or, taken together, form a carbon-carbon
bond.
[0006] This invention also provides novel synthetic intermediates, useful for the preparation
of the above-shown compounds. These intermediates are characterized by the above-shown
structure, wherein X is a phenylsulfonyl (PhSO₂) group, and where Y is selected from
the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, or protected hydroxy.
[0007] As used in this description and in the claims, a hydroxy-protecting group is any
grouping used for the protection of hydroxy functions, such as, for example, acyl
groups, or alkylsilyl groups, or alkoxyalkyl groups. A protected hydroxy group is
any hydroxy function derivatized by one of these hydroxy-protecting groups. Examples
of applicable hydroxy-protecting groups are acyl groups such as alkanoyl groups of
1 to 6 carbons, e.g. acetyl, propionyl, butyryl, etc., or benzoyl- or alkyl-, halo-
or nitro-substituted benzoyl groups, alkylsilyl groups such as trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl,
dimethylethylsilyl, t-butyldimethylsilyl and analogous groupings, and alkoxyalkyl
groups such as methoxymethyl, ethoxymethyl, methoxyethoxymethyl, tetrahydrofuranyl,
tetrahydropyranyl, etc. The term 'alkyl' as used in this specification denotes a hydrocarbon
radical of from 1 to 6 carbons in all isomeric forms.
[0008] A specific and preferred example of the novel compounds of this invention is the
cyclopentano-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ analog, having the structure I shown below:

[0009] Another preferred example is the corresponding 22,23-dehydro analog, namely cyclopentano-1,25-dihydroxy-22-dehydrovitamin
D₃, having the structure II as shown below:

The above shown compounds (or their hydroxy-protected derivatives) are prepared by
coupling an appropriate side chain fragment to a preformed vitamin D nucleus, possessing
a suitable functional group at carbon 22. For the synthesis of the compounds of type
I and II above, the appropriate vitamin D nucleus is, respectively, the 1α-hydroxyvitamin
D-22-tosylate and the 1α-hydroxyvitamin D-22-aldehyde, which may be represented by
the following structures:

where R¹ and R² are hydroxy-protecting groups.
The appropriate side chain fragment is a phenylsulfonyl derivative of the following
structure:

where R³ is a hydroxy-protecting group.
[0010] Coupling of this phenylsulfonyl side chain unit with the 1α-hydroxyvitamin D-22-tosylate
shown above provides in two basic steps the new vitamin D-cyclopentano analog of structure
I (or hydroxy-protected derivatives thereof). Similarly, coupling of the same phenylsulfonyl
side chain unit with the 1α-hydroxyvitamin D-22-aldehyde shown above, using the general
conditions of Kutner
et al. [Tetrahedron Letters
28, 6129 (1987)] gives the 22,23-unsaturated cyclopentano-vitamin D analog of structure
II (or hydroxy-protected derivatives thereof).
[0011] The preparation of the vitamin D-22-tosylate or 22-aldehyde starting materials is
diagrammed in Scheme I [see also Kutner
et al. Tetrahedron Lett.
28, 6129-6132 (1987)], whereas the prepration of the phenylsulfonyl side chain unit
was achieved as outlined in Scheme II. The coupling reaction between these materials
to obtain the desired vitamin D side chain analogs of type I or II above is illustrated
in Scheme III. In the following examples, the preparation of these compounds is described
in further detail. Arabic numerals (e.g. compound
1,
2,
3, etc.) designating starting materials or products, as used in these specific examples,
refer to the structures so numbered in process scheme I, II, and III.
Preparation of Novel Vitamin Analogs I and II
General procedures:
[0012] Infrared spectra (IR) were obtained on a Nicolet MX-1 FT-IR spectrometer using neat
films of oily substances. Ultraviolet (UV) absorption spectra were recorded with a
Hitachi Model 60-100 UV-VIS spectrometer. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra
were recorded at 270 or 400 MHz with Bruker WH-270 or AM-400 FT spectrometers in the
solvent noted. Chemical shifts (δ) are reported downfield from Me₄Si (δ 0.00). Low-
and high-resolution mass spectra were recorded at 70 eV (unless otherwise stated)
on a Kratos MS-50 TC instrument equipped with a Kratos DS-55 Data System. High resolution
data were obtained by peak matching. Samples were introduced into the ion source maintained
at 120-250°C via a direct insertion probe.
[0013] Silica gel 60 (Merck, 70-230 or 230-400 mesh) was used for column chromatography.
Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) was performed using precoated aluminum silica gel
sheets with UV indicator from EM Science (Gibbstown, NJ). Solvent systems used: A:
chloroform-ethanol 85:15 (v/v); B: hexane-ethyl acetate 1:1; and C: hexane-ethyl acetate
3:1. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was performed using a Waters Associates
Liquid Chromatograph equipped with a model 6000A solvent delivery system, a Model
6 UK Universal injector and a Model 450 variable wavelength detector. Zorbax-Silica
(Phenomenex) columns (6.2 mm x 20 cm and 10 mm x 25 cm) were used. Solvent systems:
A: 3% 2-propanol in hexane; B: 2% 2-propanol in hexane; C: 6% 2-propanol in hexane;
D: 10% 2-propanol in hexane; E: 20% 2-propanol in hexane; F: 2% ethyl acetate in hexane.
Silica gel Sep-Pak (Waters Associates) cartridges were used for the prefiltration
of HPLC samples.
[0014] 3β-Acetoxy-22,23-bisnor-5-cholenic acid was purchased from Steraloids (Wilton, NH).
Tetrahydrofuran (THF) was distilled from sodium benzophenone ketyl. Other solvents
were purified by standard methods.
n-Butyllithium in hexanes (Aldrich) was titrated with
n-propanol in the presence of 1,10-phenantroline in THF under argon.
Example 1
Preparation of hydroxy-protected vitamin ester (l):
[0015] Vitamin D-22-ester (
l) (see Scheme I) was prepared from 3β-acetoxy-22,23-bisnor-5-cholenic acid according
to the general procedures described by Kutner
et al. Tetrahedron Lett.
28, 6129-6132 (1987).
Example 2
Preparation of vitamin D-22-alcohol (2) and its tosylate (3):
[0016] To a stirred solution of 136.2 mg (0.23 nmol) of ester (
l) in 5 mL of anhydrous THF 25 mg (0.65 mmol) of lithium aluminum hydride was added
under argon at 0°C. The suspension was stirred for 15 min at 0°C and the excess of
reagent was decomposed by the dropwise addition of 10% H₂O in THF. The suspension
was diluted with 10 mL of THF and the stirring was continued for an additional 15
min at room temperature. The product was isolated by the standard extraction procedure
with ethyl acetate. Silica gel Sep-Pak filtration in 10% ethyl acetate in hexane gave
22-alcohol (
2) (118.4 mg, 91%) as a colorless oil: IR (film) 3450, 2952, 2886, 1447, 1258, 1105,
1085, 834 cm⁻¹; UV (EtOH) λ
max 264 nm, λ
min 227 nm,

¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 0.00 (12H, s, Si-CH₃), 0.53 (3H, s, 18-CH₃), 0.85 [18H, s, Si-C(CH₃)₃],
1.04 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz, 21-CH₃), 3.37 and 3.63 (1H and 1H, each m, 22-CH₂), 4.17 (1H,
m, 3-H), 4.35 (1H, m, 1-H), 4.84 (1H, br s, 19Z-H), 5.16 (1H, br s, 19E-H), 6.00 (1H,
d, J=12.2 Hz, 7-H), 6.21 (1H, d, J=12.2 Hz, 6-H); MS, m/z, 574 (M⁺, 17), 442 (67),
383 (11), 308 (17), 248 (100).
[0017] An ice cold solution of 42.7 mg (0.22 mmol) of p-toluenesulfonyl chloride in 50 µL
of dry pyridine was added to a stirred solution of alcohol (
2) at 0°C under nitrogen. The mixture was stirred at 5°C for 22 h and monitored by
TLC (system C). The reaction mixture was poured on ice cold saturated aqueous NaHCO₃
and stirring was continued for another 30 min. The product was extracted with ethyl
ether-hexane 1:1 (v/v). The organic phase was washed with saturated NaCl and dried
over MgSO₄. Solvents were removed under reduced pressure and pyridine has removed
in a stream of nitrogen. Crude product was purified by silica gel Sep-Pak filtration
(5% ethyl acetate in hexane) to give pure tosylate (
3) (54 mg, 98%): IR (film) 2950, 1580, 1367, 1267, 1189, 1178, 1099, 1085, 835 cm⁻¹;
UV (hexane) λ
max 263 nm, λ
min 236 nm; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃), δ 0.00 (12H, s, Si-CH₃), 0.43 (3H, s, 18-CH₃), 0.81 [18H,
s, Si-C(CH₃)₃], 0.94 (3H, d, J=6.8 hz, 2-CH₃), 2.40 (3H, s, Ar-CH₃), 3.64 and 3.91
(1H and 1H, each m, 22-CH₂), 4.13 (1H, m, 3-H), 4.31 (1H, m, 1-H), 4.79 (1H, brs,
19Z-H), 5.13 (1H, brs, 19E-H), 5.94 (1H, d, J=12.8 Hz, 7-H), 6.17 (1H, d, J=12.8 Hz,
6-H), 7.43 and 7.84 (2H and 2H, each m, Ar-H); MS, m/z, 728 (6), 596 (30), 556 (7),
464 (7), 424 (44), 367 (19), 292 (23), 248 (100); exact mass calcd. for C₄₁H₆₈O₅Si₂S,
728.4338; found, 728.4326.
Example 3
Preparation of vitamin D-22-aldehyde (4):
[0018] A solution of 30 µL (0.34 mmol) of oxalyl chloride in 0.5 mL of dichloromethane was
added dropwise to a stirred solution of 50 µL (0.7 mmol) of DMSO in 3 mL of dichloromethane
at -60°C under nitrogen. After the mixture was stirred for 10 min at -60°C, the solution
of 27 mg (0.05 mmol) of alcohol (
2) in 1 mL of dichloromethane was slowly added. The mixture was stirred at 30 min at
-60°C and 0.2 mL of triethylamine was added. The product was extracted with ethyl
acetate, washed (NaCl) and dried (MgSO₄). Silica gel Sep-Pak filtration afforded pure
(
4) (17 mg, 62%) as a colorless oil: IR (film) 2954, 2929, 2884, 2857, 1727, 1472, 1375,
1256, 1085, 909, 880, 835 cm⁻¹; NMR (CDCl₃), δ 0.00 (12H, s, Si-CH₃), 0.60 (3H, s,
18-CH₃), 0.88 [18H, s, Si-C(CH₃)₃], 1.11 (3H, d, J=6.9 Hz, 21-CH₃), 4.23 (1H, m, 3-H),
4.43 (1H, m, 1-H), 4.93 (1H, br s, 19Z-H), 5.19 (1H, br s, 19E-H), 6.07 (1H, d, J=10.0
Hz, 7-H), 6.26 (1H, d, J=10.0 Hz, 6-H), 9.54 (1H, d, J=3 Hz, 22-H); UV (hexane) λ
max 264 nm, λ
min 227 nm,

MS, m/z, 572 (M⁺, 13), 440 (53), 383 (11), 308 (14), 248 (100); exact mass calculated
for C₃₄H₆₀O₃Si₂, 572.4081; found, 572.4117.
[0019] An improved yield of aldehyde (
4) was obtained when the above oxidation procedure was conducted under the following
conditions: A solution of 15 µL (0.17 mmol) of oxalyl chloride in 0.75 mL anhydrous
dichloromethane was added dropwise to a stirred solution of 25 µL (0.36 mmol) dimethylsulfoxide
in 0.25 mL anhydrous dichloromethane at -60°C under an argon atmosphere. After the
mixture was stirred for 10 min at -60°C, a solution of 20.3 mg (0.035 mmol) of alcohol
(
2) in 0.5 ml of anhydrous dichloromethane was added slowly, and the flask was rinsed
with an additional 0.2 mL of the same solvent. The resulting mixture was stirred for
30 min at -60°C and 0.3 mL (2.15 mmol) of triethylamine was added (-60°C). The mixture
was stirred for 5 min, warmed to 0°C and extracted with ether. The ether phase was
washed with brine and dried (MgSO₄), silica gel Sep-Pak filtration afforded (
4) as a colorless oil which was further purified by HPLC (Zorbax-Sil 0.94 x 25 cm,
10% ethyl acetate in hexane) to give pure aldehyde (
4) (19 mg, 96% yield); only a trace of alcohol starting material was recovered (0.12
mg).
Example 4
Preparation of the phenylsulfonyl side chain fragment (10).
[0020] The hydroxy-protected side chain fragment was prepared from β-propiolactone (
5) as starting material. The lactone (
5) was converted to the diol (
6) by reaction with 1,4-bis (bromomagnesium)butane according to a known method [P.
Canonne,
et al. J. Org. Chem.
45, 1828 (1980)]. The further conversion of compound (
6) to the desired side chain unit (
10) was done according to the general methods reported by Kutner
et al., Tetrahedron Lett.
28, 6129 (1987). Thus, the primary alcohol function in diol (
6) was converted to the tosylate (
7) and the tosylate displaced by thiophenol anion to yield the phenylsulfide derivative
(
8). After oxidation of the latter with
m-chloroperbenzoic acid, the corresponding phenylsulfone (compound
9) was obtained, which was converted to the desired hydroxy-protected form by conversion
(using an excess of triethylsilyl chloride and imidazole in dimethylformamide, at
room temperature for ca. 2 hours) to the triethylsilyl derivative, compound (
10). Protected sulfone (
10) was obtained in 48% overall yield as a thick colorless oil: IR (film) 3050, 2900,
1440, 1405, 1300, 1230, 1045, 1000 cm⁻¹; ¹H NMR (CDCl₃), δ 0.47 (6H, J=5.7 Hz, Si-CH₂),
0.86 (9H, t, J=5.7 Hz, CH₃), 1.46-1.57 (4H, m), 1.63-1.71 (4H, m), 1.86-1.89 (2H,
m), 3.23-3.26 (2H, m), 7.58 (2H, t, J=7.3 Hz, Ar-H, meta), 7.66 (1H, t, J=7.3 Hz,
Ar-H, para), 7.92 (2H, d, J=7.3 Hz, Ar-H, ortho); MS, m/z (30 eV, rel. int.), 368
(M⁺, 0.01), 339 (M⁺-Et, 100), 227 (8), 199 (8), 163 (17), 135 (10), 115 (9), 95 (13),
87 (12), 75 (14); exact mass calcd. for C₁₉H₃₂O₃SSi, 368.1841; found, 368.1936.
Example 5
Preparation of cyclopentano-1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D₃ analog I.
[0021] Dissopropylamine (8 µL) was added to a stirred solution of
n-BuLi (41 µL; 1.35 M in hexane) containing 1.10 phenanthroline as an indicator at
-78°C under argon. After stirring under argon for 30 min, a solution of the phenylsulfone
derivative (28 mg) (
10) in THF (200 µL) was added. After stirring the resulting brown mixture at -75°C under
argon for 30 min, the cooling bath was replaced by a CCl₄/dry ice bath. After 15 min
of stirring at -21°C, a THF-solution of tosylate (11 mg) (
3) was added as the color of the reaction mixture turned back to red. The solution
was stirred at -20 to -10°C for 3.5 h; then saturated NH₄Cl was added at -10°C and
the mixture was extracted with hexane. The organic phase was washed with saturated
NaCl solution and then filtered through a silica gel Sep-Pak cartridge, to provide
the intermediary sulfone derivative (
11) as a mixture of C-23 epimers. This product was directly desulfonylated with 5% sodium
amalgam. A saturated solution of Na₂HPO₄ in methanol (500 µL) was added to a stirred
solution of the sulfone derivative (
11) in anhydrous THF (500 µL), followed by addition of more powdered NaHPO₄. The mixture
was stirred under argon for 30 min and cooled to 0°C. Fresh 5% sodium amalgam was
then added and stirring continued for 3 h at 5°C. The progress of the reaction was
monitored by TLC (system C), and when complete, the mixture was diluted with hexane
and stirred for another 15 min. The hexane layer was decanted and the methanol layer
was washed with several portions of hexane. The combined hexane extracts were washed
with ice cold saturated NaCl solution, and then filtered through a silica gel Sep-Pak
cartridge to give hydroxy-protected triol (105 µg) (
12). The protecting groups were removed by treatment of a THF solution (500 µL) of (
12) with a solution of tetrabutylammonium fluoride in THF (10 µL; 1 M solution). After
stirring for 50 min at 50°C under argon, ether was added and the organic phase was
washed with NaCl solution. Solvent was then evaporated and the residue was isolated
by filtration through a silica gel Sep-Pak cartridge (10% 2-propanol in hexane), and
the product, the desired vitamin analog I, was then purified by preparative HPLC (10
mm x 25 cm column, system D). Triol I (54 µg), obtained in 12% yield (from
3), exhibited the folowing physical properties: IR (film) 3360, 2930, 1605, 1442, 1378,
1291, 1145, 1105, 1080, 1062 cm⁻¹; UV (10% 2-propanol in hexane) λ
max 264 nm, λ
min , 228 nm,


δ 0.48 (3H, s, 18CH₃), 0.87 (3H, d, J=6.4 Hz, 21-CH₃), 4.03 (1H, m, 3-H), 4.25 (1H,
m, 1-H), L.80 (1H, br s, 19Z-H), 5.19 (1H, br s, 19E-H), 5.98 (1H, d, J=11.2 Hz, 7-H),
6.23 (1H, d, J=11.1 Hz, 6-H); MS, m/z (relative intensity), 442 (M⁺, 5), 424 (43),
406 (38), 388 (7), 373 (7), 298 (6), 285 (12), 269 (20), 251 (24), 134 (100), 85 (28);
exact mass calcd. for C₂₉H₄₈O₃, 442.3447; found, 442.3438.
Example 6
Preparation of the cyclopentano-1,25-dihydroxy-22-dehydro-vitamin D₃ analog II.
[0022] To a stirred solution of 27 mg (73 µmol) 1-[-(phenylsulfonyl)ethyl]-1-[(triethylsilyl)oxy]-cyclopentane
(
10) in 300 µL anhydrous tetrahydrofuran (containing 1,10-phenanthroline as indicator)
was added under argon atmosphere at -78°C, 11 µL diisopropylamine (80 µmol) followed
by 62 µL
n-BuLi (1.3 M in hexane) (80 µmol). The solution was stirred under argon atmosphere
at -78°C for 30 min, then 1.8 mg aldehyde (
4) (3 µmol) in 300 µL anhydrous tetrahydrofuran was added and stirred at -78°C for
1 h. The mixture was decomposed by the addition of 1 mL of saturated NH₄Cl solution,
warmed to 0°C and extracted with ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate was washed with
brine and water, dried over anhydrous MgSO₄, filtered and evaporated. Preparative
HPLC (Zorbax-Sil 9.4 mm x 25 cm column, solvent system, 10% ethyl acetate in hexane)
gave 0.5 mg unreacted aldehyde and 2.3 mg of the hydroxysulfones (
13) as a mixture of epimers.
[0023] A saturated solution of Na₂HPO₄ in methanol (1.0 mL) was added to a stirred solution
of hydroxysulfones (
13) (2.3 mg) in 1.0 mL of anhydrous THF followed by powdered anhydrous Na₂HPO₄ (160
mg). The mixture was stirred under argon atmosphere for 30 min and cooled to 0°C.
Fresh 5% sodium amalgam (ca. 400 mg) was then added, and the mixture was stirred for
16 h at 5°C. The mixture was diluted with 5 mL of hexane and stirring was continued
for 15 min. Solvents were decanted and the solid material was washed with hexane (3
x 5 mL). Ice and brine were added to the combined organic solution. The organic layer
was separated and passed through a Sep Pak cartridge in hexane. HPLC purification
gave 260 µg of compound
14 together with 126 µg of 22-hydroxylated product (Zorbax-Sil 9.4 mm x 25 cm column,
10% ethyl acetate in hexane). The protected triol (
14) was dissolved in 1.0 mL of anhydrous THF and tetrabutylammonium fluoride in anhydrous
THF (50 µL, 1 M solution) added. The mixture was stirred under argon atmosphere for
1 h at 50°C. Ether (5 mL) was then added and the organic phase was washed with brine.
Solvents were removed and the residue was dissolved in 1:1 2-propanol/hexane and passed
through a silica Sep Pak cartridge. Preparative HPLC (Zorbax-Sil 9.4 mm x 25 cm column,
20% 2-propanol in hexane) gave the 22E-dehydro-triol (II) (110 µg) UV (EtOH) λ
max 264 nm, λ
min 228,

1.04 (3H, d, J=6.5 Hz, 21-CH₃), 4.23 (1H, m, 3-H), 4.44 (1H, m, 1-H), 4.99 (1H,
br s, 19Z-H), 5.32 (1H, br s, 19E-H), 5.41 (2H, m, 22 and 23 H), 6.01 (1H, d, J=11.3
Hz, 7-H), 6.37 (1H, d, J=11.2 Hz, 6-H). MS, m/z (relative intensity) 440 (M⁺, 14),
422 (51), 404 (20), 287 (10), 269 (22), 251 (18), 152 (30), 134 (100), 116 (8) 85
(98); exact mass calcd. for C₂₉H₄₄O₃, 440.3290; found, 440.3305.
Biological Activity of the New Vitamin D Analogs
[0024] The new vitamin D analogs, cyclopentano-1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D₃ (compound I) and
cylcopentano-1,25-dihydroxy-22E-dehydro-vitamin D₃ (compound II) were assayed for
both calcemic activity and differentiation activity, using established procedures
known in the art. The assay procedures and results obtained are described in the following
examples.
Example 7
Intestinal calcium transport activity and bone calcium mobilization activity of compounds
I and II.
[0025] Male weanling rats (obtained from Harlan-Sprague Dawley Co., Madison, WI) were fed
a low calcium, vitamin D-deficient diet (0.02% Ca, 0.3% P) as described by Suda
et al. (J. Nutr.
100, 1049-1052, 1970), for a total of 4 weeks
ad libitum. At the end of the third week, the animals were divided randomly into groups of 6
rats each. One group (the control group) received a daily dose of solvent vehicle
(0.1 mL of 95% propylene glycol/5% ethanol) by interperitoneal (i.p.) injection for
a total of 7 days. The other groups received the amounts of test compound (i.e. 1,25-(OH)₂D₃,
compound I, or compound II) as indicated in Table 1, dissolved in the same amount
of solvent vehicle by daily injection over a period of 7 days. The animals were killed
24 hours after the last injection, their intestines were removed for intestinal calcium
transport measurements, and their blood was collected for the assay of bone calcium
mobilization (measurement of serum calcium levels). Intestinal calcium transport was
measured by the everted gut sac technique [Martin & DeLuca, Am. J. Physiol.
216, 1351 (1969)] as described by Halloran and DeLuca [Arch. Biochem. Biophys.
208, 477-486 (1981)]. The results, expressed in the usual fashion as a ratio of serosal/mucosal
calcium concentrations, are given in Table 1 below. Bone calcium mobilization was
assayed by measuring serum calcium levels, using the standard procedures: 0.1 mL aliquots
of serum were diluted with 1.9 mL of a 0.1% aqueous solution of LaCl₃ and calcium
concentrations were then determined directly by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results,
expressed as mg % calcium, are also presented in Table 1 below.

Example 8
Differentiation activity of Compounds I and II.
[0026] Degree of differentiation of HL-60 cells (human leukemia cells) in response to test
compounds was assessed by three different assays: NBT reduction, esterase activity,
and phagocytosis activity. The NBT reduction and phagocytosis assays were carried
out as described by DeLuca
et al. in U.S. Patent 4,717,721. The third assay, measuring nonspecific acid esterase as
a marker for degree of differentiation was conducted according to the method given
in Sigma Kit No. 90, available from Sigma Chemical Corp., St. Louis, MO [see also,
Ostrem
et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA
84, 2610 (1987); Ostrem
et al., J. Biol. Chem.
262, 14164 (1987)]. Results are shown in Table 2 below. The data for the three assays
are presented as the percent of differentiated cells resulting from treatment with
various concentrations of 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ (used as comparison standard) or the cyclopentano-vitamin
D analogs I and II.

[0027] The preceding test results establish that the new cyclopentano analogs I and II,
possess high calcemic and differentiation activity. Indeed, the assay results listed
in Table 1 and Table 2 show that, with respect to calcemic activity and differentiation
activity, the two cyclopentano vitanin D analogs are more potent than the natural
hormone, 1,25-(OH)₂D₃. Thus, the calcium transport response elicited by analogs I
and II (see Table 1) is approximately the same as that given by 1,25-(OH)₂D₃, but
the two analogs are distinctly more potent than 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ in their effect on calcium
mobilization from bone (Table 1). Similarly, the data in Table 2 show that analogs
I and II are approximately five times more active than 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ in inducing the
differentiation of leukemic cells. This is evident, for example, from the entries
showing that both compounds I and II achieve 90% differentiation at a concentration
of 5 x 10⁻⁸ M, whereas a five-fold higher concentration (1 x 10⁻⁷ M) of 1,25-(OH)₂D₃
is required to produce the same degree of differentiation.
[0028] Based on these results, one can conclude that both of the new cyclopentano analogs
can be used effectively as calcium regulating agents or as differentiation-inducing
agents. Thus, the new analogs can be employed in the prophylaxis or treatment of calcium
metabolism disorders such as renal osteodystrophy, vitamin D-resistant rickets, osteoporosis
and related diseases. likewise, their high potency in inducing the differentiation
of ralignant cells to normal cells indicates that the cyclopentano analogs can be
used in place of such known compounds as 1,25-(OH)₂D₃ for the treatment of neoplastic
disease, especially leukemias.
[0029] For treatment purposes, these compounds may be formulated as solutions in innocuous
solvents, or as emulsions, suspensions, or dispersions in suitable and innocuous solvents
and carriers, or as pills, tablets, or capsules by conventional methods known in the
art. Such formulations may also contain other pharmaceutically-acceptable excipients,
such as inert carriers, or stabilizers, anti-oxidants, binders, coloring agents or
emulsifying or taste-modifying agents.
[0030] The compounds are advantageously administered by injection, or by intravenous infusion
of suitable sterile solutions, or in the form of oral doses as pills, tablets, or
capsules. For the treatment or prophylaxis of calcium metabolism disorders, the compounds
are administered to subjects in dosages sufficient to correct or prevent the disorder.
Suitable dosage ranges are from 0.1 to 10 µg per day, depending on the condition to
be treated and the response of the subject. Similar dosage amounts are appropriate
in using the novel compounds of this invention for the treatment of neoplastic diseases.